eGDCAnnual Retention Fee
The Annual Retention Fee (ARF) is the fee all registered dentists and dental care professionals must pay each year to remain on the dentists register or dental care professionals register.
If you have not yet registered, you will pay a pro rata fee.
When do I pay the ARF?
The deadline for all dental care professionals to pay is 31 July each year, while the deadline for all dentists to pay is 31 December each year. You will receive a letter ahead of the deadline with information about how you can make the payment.
How can I pay?
You can pay your ARF by:
If you have a direct debit set up to pay your ARF we will claim the fee as one sum from your bank account.
Please remember to let us know immediately by contacting us here or in writing if you change any of your bank details for your direct debit. If you forget to do this, we may not be able to claim your ARF by direct debit. This could put your registration at risk and result in you being removed from the register for non payment and not being able to practise in the UK.
How much is the ARF?
The fee for dentists is £680 and must be paid by 31 December.
Dentists
| ARF period | Amount | Due date |
|---|---|---|
1 Jan - 31 Dec | £680 | 31 Dec |
The fee for maintaining entry on our specialist lists is £72 per specialty and must be paid by 31 December.
Specialists (per speciality)
| ARF period | Amount | Due date |
|---|---|---|
1 Jan - 31 Dec | £72 | 31 Dec |
The fee for dental care professionals is £114 and must be paid by 31 July.
Dental care professionals
| ARF period | Amount | Due date |
|---|---|---|
1 Aug - 31 Jul | £114 | 31 Jul |
When will I receive my annual practising certificate?
We will send you your annual practising certificate to your registered address. If you have not received your certificate six weeks after your payment has been processed then please call 020 7167 6000 or contact us here. You can also download your certificate by logging on to your eGDC account.
Can I request a refund if my circumstances have changed and I wish to leave the register at some point during the year?
How can I submit a complaint about the ARF collection?
I'm a dental technician and don't work directly with patients so why do I need to pay?
How much is the ARF?
I've paid my ARF, why haven't I received my Annual Practising Certificate?
What is Indemnity and do I need it?
When is the ARF collected?
How can I pay my ARF during the collection period?
Cheques should be made payable to 'General Dental Council' and posted to the below address:
Renewal Team
General Dental Council
1 Colmore Square
Birmingham
B4 6AJ
Please ensure that you write your name and registration number on the back of the cheque. A freepost envelope will be included with your Annual Renewal notice for you to send it to us. Please do not write on the freepost envelope, this may mean we do not receive your renewal.
Can I pay by BACs?
Direct Debits
Dentists
Dental Care Professionals
You must set up the direct debit by midnight on 1 June 2020 in order to pay your next ARF this way. We will send your 2020-2021 Annual Renewal notice in June 2020. All payments for the 2020-2021 ARF must be received by 31 July 2020 to ensure renewal of your entry on the register.
If you wish to cancel your direct debit you have until midnight 21 June 2020. After this time the only way to cancel your direct debit is directly with your bank, however there is no guarantee this will be processed in time and payment may still be taken.
When will you claim the Direct Debit from my bank account?
Dentists
We seek to take the direct debit approximately four weeks before the 31 December deadline as this allows registrants whose direct debits fail the opportunity to pay by an alternative means. You will be notified of the exact date at least ten working days before we claim the direct debit. However, we will claim the direct debit on/around the 1 December 2020.
Dental Care Professionals
We will claim the direct debit on/around the 8 July 2020 i.e. approximately four weeks before the payment deadline of 31 July 2019. You will be notified of the exact date at least ten working days before we claim the direct debit.
I have not received my Annual Renewal notice and want to pay my fee. What do I do?
I don’t intend to practise for the whole year. Do you have a reduced rate fee to cover this?
I only work part time – is there a reduced fee?
I am on maternity leave – is there a reduced fee?
Where will you send the Annual Renewal notice and annual practising certificate?
Will you send me a receipt for my payment?
What will happen if I am late with my payment?
If you are removed from the register and wish to resume practise in the UK, you must first restore your name to the register.
Please be aware that it is illegal for an unregistered dentist or dental care professional to practise dentistry in the UK. You must therefore not practise until your name has been restored to the register.
I intend to retire or leave the register at the end of the renewal period and do not wish to pay my retention fee – what do I do?
- During the Annual Renewal period you can remove your name by logging into your eGDC account where you will have the option of selecting 'Do not Renew' under the 'Manage
Payments' section. We will record the reason for removal as 'Voluntary removal'. We will then write to you to confirm that you are no longer registered or:
- You can choose not to pay your fee at the end of the Annual Renewal year and we will remove your name, recording the reason for removal as 'Non-payment'.
- During the rest of the year you can contact the registration operations team by email and we will send you the appropriate paperwork.
- Once you are removed from the register your name will be circulated to the NHS, health boards and indemnity providers throughout the UK;